Bogie mountings for rail vehicles



May 12 1959 E. HEUMANN 2,885,970

BOGIE MOUNTINGS FOR RAIL VEHICLES Filed July so, 1952 2 Sheets-Sh'eeh 1 10/ 10.2 20/ I0 2 l I l A TfOQ/VE Y May 12, 1959 E. HEUMANN BOGIE MOUNTINGS FOR RAIL VEHICLES Filed Jilly 50, 1952 Do (1A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY A MM fv m A TTORNE Y United States Patent BOGIE MOUNTINGS FOR RAIL VEHICLES Application July 30, 1952, Serial No. 301,718 In Germany March 24, 1950 Public Law 619, August 23, 1954 Patent expires March 24, 1970 7 Claims. (Cl. 105-199) This invention relates to pinless bogie or truck mounting arrangements for vehicles, i.e. that class of bogie mounting which dispenses with the use of a vertical centre pivot forming an axis about whichthe vehicle body and the bogie are relatively rotatable.

In such class of vehicle bogie mounting arrangements it is known to employ open quadrilateral linkages each consisting of two parallel links of equal length pivoted at one end to the vehicle body along the longitudinal or transverse axis and having their other ends interconnected by a lever arm pivoted intermediate its ends on the bogie frame, one of said linkages transmitting the lateral forces and the other the longitudinal forces set up between the bogie and the vehicle body, and said linkages combining to locate the virtual axis of relative rotation of the bogie and body at a substantially fixed point.

1 One object of the present invention is to provide an improved bogie mounting arrangement of the class defined in which the tractive and braking stresses are taken up independently of the bogie mounting arrangement.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of restoring or centering devices associated with the bogie mounting arrangement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a linkage arrangement having the effect of a transversely displaceable springurged centre'pivot pin.

These and other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a number of embodiments thereof by way of example, and in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show one constructional embodiment of vehicle bogie mounting accordingto the invention, Figure 1 being a sectional plan view on line 1-1 of Figure 2; i

Figure 2 being a longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and Figure 3 being a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view showing an arrange ment corresponding to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3 and provided with a restoring device.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 through 3, the vehicle frame or body 1 is shown as being of a welded plate construction comprising a pair of horizontal topplates 101, 102 from which depends a boxlike extension 3 consisting of pairs of vertical end plates 103, 104 vertical side plates 105 and a'bottom plate 106. The extension 3, which is of rectangular shapein plan and is arranged symmetrically withrespect to the longitudinal and transt verse median planes X and Y ofthe vehicle, is disposed with its major axis in the direction of travel. The bogie or truck frame 2 is also shown as being of a welded plate construction and comprises a top plate 201, bottom plate 202, side plates 203 and transverse plates 204. j The top plate 201 is formed with an aperture 205 through which the extension 3 of the body projects, said aperture "ice being of sufiiciently large dimensions to permit the extension to turn therein about its vertical axis as the bogie swivels relatively to the body.

The. bogie frame in plan is of H-shape having a pair of longitudinally extending arm portions 206 at either end. Each of these arms carries a laminated spring 207 secured to the arm by shackles 208, and a strap 209 on the spring couples the latter to a journal provided in one end of a lever 210 pivoted at its other end at 211 on the bogie frame. Each pair of journals is provided with self-aligning roller bearings 212 in which the shaft 213 of the corresponding pair of rail-engaging wheels 214 is mounted.

The vehicle body is supported on the bogie frame 2 by a spring suspension system comprising a pair of laminated springs 215, one at each side of the vehicle, the ends of which are carried by rods 216. Each rod has secured thereto at its upper end a cap 217 between which and a bracket 218 projecting from the adjacent bogie frame side plate 204 is a coil spring 219. Each spring 215 carries a centrally located strap 220 which is pinned at 221 to a bracket 222 depending from the body frame 1.

The longitudinal forces, i.e. tractive and braking forces, are transmitted between the vehicle body frame and the bogie frame by means of co-operating bearing surfaces, located in the median longitudinal plane X. For this purpose each end wall 103 of the vehicle frame extension 3 carries a projection5 having a convex surface abutting against a plane surface of a projection 6 on the adjacent transverse plate 204 of the bogie frame. The convex surface: of projection 5 is formed to a radius having as its centre the point of intersection O of the planes X and Y. The co-operating surface of each abutment 6 may have a concave form of the same radius as that of the convex surface of abutment 5. The :abutments 5, 6 may be welded to the plates 103, 204 or secured thereto in any other convenient manner such as by bolts, rivets or flanges.

The transverse forces are transmitted between the body frame and bogie frame by a quadrilateral system of pivoted levers which also provides for rotational mounting of the bogie relatively to the body. Secured to each plate 104 of the body extension 3 is a bracket 107 arranged in the plane X, and to which is pivotally connected at F one end of a transverse lever '7. Each lever 7 is pivotally connected at its other end at 109 to the longitudinally extending arm of bell crank lever 110. The bell crank levers are each formed with a laterally extending arm and said arms are pivotally connected at 111 to a longitudinal link 3. The bell crank levers are pivotally mounted at D between upper and lower plates 224, 225 secured to the sides 203 of the bogie frame. 1

When the bogie travels around a curve the pivot points D, and thus also the bogie, are caused to move circularly about the virtual axis of rotation 0, since the bearing surfaces of abutments 5 and 6 engage one another without any substantial play and so prevent any appreciable movement of the axis 0 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Consequently the same effect is achieved as that provided by a centre pivot pin. The pivot points F, 109 and 111 are constructed so that they are movable in space, for example, as ball-and-socket or other universal joints, or rubber-cushioned or other flexible sleeve bearings such as those commercially known as silentbloc bearings, whereby the vehicle will be able to travel safely and efficiently over a banked track. The provision of the bell-crank levers 110 between the levers 7 and links 8 avoids bending stresses in said links, as with large turning angles, there is produced a slight displacement of the virtual axis of rotation.

In the embodiment of the invention schematically illustrated in Fig. 4 the pivot points of the quadrilateral linkage assemblies are again indicated by F and D, F denoting the pivotal connections of said assembly to the vehicle frame or body 1 and D the pivotal connections of said assembly to the bogie or truck 2, while A indicates the points of articulation between the links and the levers of the assemblies. The mean longitudinal axis is again indicated by X and the mean transverse axis by Y. The point of intersection O of these axes constitutes the virtual vertical pivotal axis of the bogie. 5 and 6 again indicate the abutments on the vehicle body and bogie respectively by which the tractive and braking forces are transmitted. The transverse forces are transmitted through the quadrilateral linkage with a substantially circular guiding movement of the bogie about its virtual axis 0, while the longitudinal forces are transmitted through the abutments 5, 6. Some or all of the pivot points A, D and F, and especially the points of articulation A between the links and the levers, may be constructed as universal joints or may be provided with rubber-cushioned or other resilient bearings of well-known construction.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, a restoring or centering device is provided in the direction of travel. For this purpose the link 8 of Figure 1 is formed as two axially aligned rods 16, 17 the former of which is provided at its inner end with a cylindrical extension surrounding the inner end of rod 17. A compression spring is interposed between a fixed collar on the inner end of rod 17 and a freely movable collar also on said rod, and the cylinder is provided with abutment rings 18, 19 limiting the movement of the movable collar and the rod 17 respectively in opposite axial directions. This construction and arrangement of the restoring device makes it readily accessible for lubrication and servicing and adjustable according to operational requirements.

The pivot points F on the vehicle frame 1, 3 and the pivot points D on the bogie frame 2 are in principle interchangeable in such manner that then the pivot points D may be articulated on the vehicle frame 1, 3 and the pivot points F on the bogie frame 2. All the pivot points F, D, A, 109 and 111 are advantageously mounted in rubbercushioned bearings in order to produce a reduction of impact and a mounting or articulation which has limited movement, is free from wear, and is elastic and noiseless. For the purpose of minimising longitudinal impacts, the abutments 5, 6 may be arranged on the vehicle frame and bogie frame respectively with the interposition of an elastic layer, for example, a rubber layer or the like. The articulation of the quadrilateral linkage, or the fitting of the pairs of abutments 5, 6 is effected in a horizontal plane. In order to produce the effect of a low-mounted pivot pin, it is advantageous that the articulation of the quadrilateral linkage and the abutments 5, 6 are placed as low as possible, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In principle, it is possible to install the restoring device 14 with or without initial tension according to operational requirements.

What I claim is:

1. In a rail vehicle, a bogie, a body mounted on said bogie, at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly having connections both to the bogie and to the body to permit relative rotation of the bogie and body about a virtual central vertical axis, said assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and articulated to the body at their inner ends, and means pivotally interconnecting said levers at their outer ends, said means also being articulated to the bogie, the said levers being spaced from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle and the said interconnecting means being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and means to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the bogie and body comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on the bogie arranged in the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on the body also arranged in the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and maintaining engagement with the respective bearing surfaces on the bogie in any position of relative rotation of the bogie and body about said virtual axis.

2. A rail vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces on the bogie are provided on the end edges of a recess extending longitudinally of the bogie, and the bearing surfaces on the vehicle body are provided on a depending extension of said body projecting into said bogie recess and of smaller transverse dimension than said recess.

3. A rail vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lever assembly is located asymmetrically of the mean transverse plane of the bogie.

4. A rail vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pivotal and articulation points of the lever assembly is formed as 'a universal joint.

5. .A rail vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting means comprises a link connected to the levers through bell-crank levers.

6. A rail vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting means comprises two relatively axially movable rods, a compression spring coupling together said rods, and a bell-crank lever connecting each of said rods with one of said levers.

7. In a rail vehicle, a bogie having a longitudinal recess formed symmetrically of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, a body mounted on said bogie, a longitudinal hollow extension on said body also formed symmetrically of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, said extension depending within the bogie recess, at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly having connections both to the bogie and to the body to permit relative rotation of the bogie and body about a virtual central vertical axis, said assembly comprising a pair of spaced parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and articulated at their inner ends to the ends of the body extension, and means externally of said extension pivotally interconnecting said levers at their outer ends, said means also being articulated to the bogie, and means to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the bogie and body comprising a transverse bearing surface at each end of the bogie recess arranged in the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a transverse bearing surface on each end of the body extension also arranged in the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and maintaining engagement with the corresponding bearing surface on the bogie in any position of relative rotation of the bogie and body about said virtual axis.

Taylor Dec. 9, 

